What happened
On June 12, 2025, at approximately 1750 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, registration N312DA, was involved in an accident near Hartsville, Tennessee. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Prior to departure from Lebanon Municipal Airport (M54) in Lebanon, Tennessee, the pilot topped off the fuel and added one quart of oil to the engine. An engine runup was performed with no anomalies noted. The flight was destined for Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky.
After climbing to 7,000 feet MSL, the pilot observed the oil pressure annunciator light activate. The pilot diverted to the nearest airport, located approximately 8 miles away. During the diversion, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. Despite multiple restart attempts, the engine did not restart. Upon descending to 2,300 feet MSL, the pilot deployed the aircraft's whole airframe parachute system. The parachute functioned as intended, but the aircraft struck trees during the descent, causing substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and discovered a large hole in the left crankcase half of the engine. The investigation found that the No. 2 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft, and the crankshaft journal showed evidence of lubrication distress.